Cornwall residents are experiencing power outages, as are people in Central Valley and Highland Mills.

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Posted Feb. 13, 2014 at 3:30 AM
Updated Feb 14, 2014 at 12:11 AM

Posted Feb. 13, 2014 at 3:30 AM
Updated Feb 14, 2014 at 12:11 AM

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A major winter storm, expected to bring up to 18 inches in parts of the Hudson Valley, is bringing more than a foot of snow, plus wind, into the region. Snow has been falling for nearly 24 hours in areas.

UPDATE (12:05 a.m.): This storm is bringing the wind necessary to knock out power.

- Power outages are bring reported in Central Valley (109 customers affected) and Highland Mills (211 customers affected), both instances near Smith Clove Road. Power is expected to be turned on around 6 a.m. Friday in both instances.

There are also small outages in the Sugar Loaf area.

- Central Hudson is reporting 420 customers in total without power in the Cornwall area.

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UPDATE (12:03 a.m.): A vehicle fire is being reported around 270 Seven Springs Road in the Kiryas Joel area.

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UPDATE (11:53 p.m.): Restoration time in Slate Hill is now 5 a.m., according to Orange & Rockland, for the 168 customers affected. The utility also reports an outage across the Delaware River from Sparrowbush, affecting 97 customers, and an outage in Howells, affecting 12 customers.

The utility's biggest problem, however, is a major outage affecting more than 3,000 customers in the Spring Valley/Valley Cottage area of Rockland County.

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UPDATE (11:48 p.m.): The Cornwall power outages have increased considerably. Central Hudson reports 129 customers are now affected in the Russell Street area of Firthcliffe, while another 116 customers are affected at Mailler Avenue.

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UPDATE (11:45 p.m.): The New York Thruway is now considered "severe" for driving conditions, according to the New York State Department of Transportation.

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UPDATE (11:26 p.m.): Meanwhile, Central Hudson reports an outage on Russell Street in the Firthcliffe section of Cornwall. About 13 customers are out there, with no expected timetable for restoration.

Central Hudson is also reporting sporadic outages in Cornwall, Marlboro and Ardonia.

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UPDATE (11:22 p.m.): Orange & Rockland Utilities reports a major power outage in the Slate Hill area. Specifically, the outage is off Ridgebury Road near Lime Kiln Road (County Route 93). About 168 customers are affected, and expected restoration time is 4 a.m. Friday.

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UPDATE (10:56 p.m.): Various primary and secondary roads in the Binghamton area are now considered "severe" as a large band of snow moves slowly through the eastern part of the state.

What does this mean? It means that people on Hudson Valley roads should get off the roads as soon as possible. This snow band won't move much for the next six hours, according to the National Weather Service.

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UPDATE (10:49 p.m.): With snow coming down at a steady clip, cars are rolling and skidding again. On the New York Thruway, two accidents to report:

- At mile 61, right at exit 17 on the southbound Thruway, there's an accident.

- Three miles north, on the northbound Thruway at mile 64.6 in the Town of Newburgh, there's an accident.

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UPDATE (10:28 p.m.): A steady and moderate snowfall begins the second round of this nor'easter. Secondary roads are already, once again, covered with a fine blanket of white.

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UPDATE (10 p.m.): According to the Department of Transportation, the New York Thruway is generally wet at the moment. Interstate 84, plus Route 17, Route 9W, Route 44/55, Route 17A, Route 94 and the Ulster County section of Route 209 are still considered "snow and ice covered." For now, no local road is considered "severe."

UPDATE (7 p.m.): Folks trying to get home to the Hudson Valley via Metro-North's Hudson Line could see long wait times. According to one passenger, there are minimal Hudson Line trains running tonight (about one per hour during rush hour), and they're all running local.

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UPDATE (6:36 p.m.): The Mud Mills Road outage has been resolved, according to Orange & Rockland.

UPDATE (4:26 p.m.): All tandem trailers are banned on the New York Thruway, in both directions from the New York City line to Exit 36 (Syracuse/Interstate 81), until further notice.

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UPDATE (4:01 p.m.) The National Weather Service has some snowfall totals after the first strike:

- Warwick: 12 inches (1:14 p.m.)

- Harriman: 11.5 inches (2 p.m.)

- Highland Mills: 11 inches (2:03 p.m.)

- Greenville: 9.6 inches (2:16 p.m.)

- Cornwall-on-Hudson: 9.5 inches (3 p.m.)

- Middletown: 8.8 inches (1:45 p.m.)

- Washingtonville: 8.8 inches (12:59 p.m.)

- Blooming Grove: 7.2 inches (12:16 p.m.)

We measured 7 inches at about 2:30 p.m. in Middletown. Given the amount of snow on the ground before the storm, and given the amount of wind blowing throughout, we can approximate a total of 8-10 inches for most of Orange County this morning and afternoon.

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UPDATE (3:56 p.m.): The Department of Transportation has upgraded western Orange County roads (Route 209, Route 6, Route 17M) to snow-covered, from severe. The roads are expected to improve slightly through the evening, though ice could become a factor.

Once an expected second band of snow falls starting this evening, roads may again become treacherous to navigate.

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UPDATE (3:32 p.m.): So you think studded snow tires are a sure bet for a sure ride on the slippery snow-covered roads?

You haven't talked to Desiree Bull of White Lake in Sullivan County.

Bull, who drives Medicaid patients to appointments in a Town and Country Chrysler minivan, was driving on Route 17B in White Lake Thursday morning when she felt her vehicle slipping and sliding – despite the studs on her snows.

“The first time all winter,” she said.

So she called her boss at Americare Transportation, who told her to stay off the roads.

“We're not going to put you or the patients at risk,” Bull said she was told.

Still, if there was patient who really needed immediate medical care – like a child going to a chemotherapy appointment – they would make sure they got there.

“With one of the bosses' four wheel drives,” she said.

- Steve Israel

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UPDATE (3:30 p.m.): Army women's basketball coach Dave Magarity might have to go it alone at practice today … if it's even held.

Magarity was busy spending his mid-afternoon trying to find ways to get his players up to practice because the normal West Point student shuttles are not running on post at the United States Military Academy.

The first band of snow is moving north and is over Ulster County and the Capital Region, as expected, with precipitation ending in the mid- and low-valley, for now.

There may be spots of freezing rain and sleet in this late-afternoon phase, with Ulster County getting some into the evening.

A second major band of precipitation is expected to blitz us this evening and continue into early Friday morning. That should bring us another 6-10 inches of snow.

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UPDATE (3:26 p.m.): A snow accumulation of 9 inches recorded in Cornwall.

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UPDATE (3:04 p.m.): While the snow has tapered off for the moment in Orange County, it's solidly coming down in Ulster County. James Nani in Kingston reports that the plows are making some headway, but the snow keeps coming, making it very tough to drive and walk.

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UPDATE (2:46 p.m.): An accident has been reported at mile 58.3 on the northbound New York Thruway, just south of exit 17 in Newburgh, and close to the Route 300 overpass.

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UPDATE (2:43 p.m.): A female pedestrian was struck by a plow in Montgomery. She has a minor leg injury, according to police.

UPDATE (2:41 p.m.): Steve Israel in Bethel reports that sleet had begun to enter the picture, but just as quickly, it started snowing large, puffy snow once again. The reading there is about 5-6 inches.

UPDATE (2:06 p.m.): The Galleria at Crystal Run in the Town of Wallkill has announced it has closed for the rest of the day, as of 2 p.m.

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UPDATE (1:55 p.m.): Two early morning Friday flights out of Stewart International Airport now have been cancelled, according to the airlines' Web sites.

U.S. Airways' 5:45 a.m. flight to Philadelphia and Delta's 6 a.m. flight to Detroit are listed as cancelled. All other Friday flights out of Stewart, including three later flights to Philadelphia and two later flights to Detroit, are listed as being on time. Passengers should check with their carrier for the latest information on any cancellations, delays or other schedule changes.

Eight of nine scheduled passenger flights out of Stewart on Thursday were cancelled due to the storm.

- Michael Randall

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UPDATE (1:49 p.m.): Heather Yakin reports that the Department of Transportation is determining routes 209, 44/55, 32 and 9W in Ulster County as severe.

UPDATE (1:34 p.m.): According to State Police Troop K, commercial traffic will be banned from Interstate 84, effective immediately.

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UPDATE (1:23 p.m.): The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, in its midday update, said all four metro airports are open.

- Stewart Airport has 16 cancellations as of noon.

- JFK Airport has 328 cancellations as of noon.

- Newark Liberty Airport has 658 cancellations as of noon.

- LaGuardia Airport has 706 cancellations as of noon.

New York City tunnels and bridgers are open; the George Washington Bridge is at a 35 mph restriction.

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UPDATE (1:17 p.m.): Erik Gliedman, driving on Route 17 west, says there are a few cars off the road. Conditions are very rough, with some spots being plowed, but most spots being filled quickly by strong snow. Visibility is down to a few car lengths. Speeds are very slow.

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UPDATE (1:10 p.m.):A tidbit from photographer/photo editor Steve Borland, who is in the Highland area:

"I parked for about 20 minutes to take photos at the Walkway Over the Hudson. When I came back after 20 minutes, my windshield had over 1 inch of snow on it."

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UPDATE (1:09 p.m.): We can now confirm six inches of snow in Middletown.

UPDATE (1 p.m.): Chester Village Court has been cancelled for Thursday, including all business scheduled for time slots from 3 to 9 p.m., due to the storm.

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UPDATE (12:56 p.m.): The Village of Walden has declared a snow emergency, reports Mike Randall. No vehicles may park on any street in the village until the emergency is lifted. Temporary parking during the snow emergency is allowed in the municipal lots on Orchard, Oak and Maple streets, and at Bradley Park.

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UPDATE (12:52 p.m.): Interstate 84 is closed at exit 2 (Mountain Road, Greenville) for approximately two hours, reports Heather Yakin. The Department of Transportation says there are multiple jackknifed tractor-trailers.

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UPDATE (12:48 p.m.): An accident has been reported at mile 76.1 on the southbound New York Thruway. It's right after exit 18 in New Paltz and is on the side of the road.

Conditions on the Thruway there are not apt for driving. The road is only lightly plowed.

UPDATE (12:30 p.m.): Heather Yakin reports business is light but steady at the shopping plaza at 475 Route 17M in Monroe, largely being driven by people ducking into Stop & Shop for staples.

Fran's Hallmark is open, hoping for Valentine's Day shoppers.

"I'm hoping when it lets up at noon we get a little rush then," says the owner, Tony Cardone, who's working with his daughter and an employee who he picked up so she wouldn't have to drive in the snow.

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UPDATE (12:29 p.m.): Jessica DiNapoli reports Interstate 84 east is backed up as far as you can see from the Route 300 overpass in Newburgh.

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UPDATE (12:06 p.m.): Deerpark Town Hall is closing early today, reports Gittel Evangelist. It will also be closed Friday and Monday for Presidents Day weekend.

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UPDATE (12:05 p.m.): Jessica DiNapoli in Newburgh reports that it's been a harrowing but ultimately rewarding day for the pizza guy. Vincent McNair is delivering pizzas for Stella's Pizzeria today but is taking it slow on the roads. He said customers are being generous with tips.

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UPDATE (12:04 p.m.): An accident to report at mile 71.1 on the northbound New York Thruway, which is just south of exit 18 in New Paltz.

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UPDATE (11:50 a.m.): Nathan Brown in Middletown reports the city is towing cars on streets, per city code, so move your cars if you haven't already.

Department of Public Works chief Jacob Tawil also urged shovelers not to throw snow back into the road or onto their neighbors' sidewalks. And, he said to call Orange & Rockland Utilities if you see any downed power lines. There haven't been any reports of downed lines yet, but with the wind picking up and with the possibility that rising temperatures could lead to ice accumulations weighing down the wires, Tawil said it could happen later today.

The DPW has enough salt, Tawil said -- they're expecting five more deliveries today of 50 tons each.

"We're in good shape salt-wise," he said.

This winter has been costing the city, though -- the DPW has already exhausted its salt and overtime budgets for the year. The city just authorized another $50,000 for OT and $150,000 for salt, which Tawil hopes will be enough for the rest of the season.

Tawil said people should stay home if they don't have to travel.

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UPDATE (11:48 a.m.): It's a pure white-out. Wind-blown snow is making visibility slight, but accumulations are quickly increasing. An unscientific measurement in Middletown shows 5-6 inches of snow so far.

UPDATE (10:51 a.m.): Gov. Andrew Cuomo has called for a state of emergency for the mid-Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island.

In a conference with members of the media, Cuomo said the heaviest band of snow is on its way, and the Hudson Valley will be receiving the worst of the storm - approximately a foot in total. At its heaviest, the snow may fall at 2-3 inches per hour, according to Cuomo.

"That's a rate that makes it virtually impossible to keep up," he said.

According to state Police Superintendent Joseph D'Amico, accidents have been sparse on Interstate 84. If the highway becomes too icy and difficult to plow, the state could still close it.

Cuomo said that criticism of last week's closure of I-84 had nothing to do with his decision to keep it open for now today. He said he tries to err on the side on caution, but expects criticism either way -- if you close a road and nobody gets hurt, people say you didn't have to close it; if you leave one open and people get hurt or die, you'll get criticized for that, too.

"It's one of those decisions where they can second-guess you either way," he said.

No roads have been closed yet, but Cuomo said they would keep an eye out.

"In two hours, it could be different. In five hours, it could be different."

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UPDATE (10:11 a.m.): New Paltz Town Hall is closed for business today, reports Jeremiah Horrigan.

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UPDATE (9:58 a.m.): An accident is reported at mile 76 on the northbound New York Thruway. That's just before exit 18 in New Paltz.

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UPDATE (9:40 a.m.): Steve Israel reports snow is falling faster now in Bethel, with about two inches on the ground. Route 17B is passable, but slick and getting slicker.

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UPDATE (9:41 a.m.): Snow and ice conditions are now being reported on the entirety of New York Interstate 84. Complete caution is necessary on the road.

Meanwhile, snow and ice are being reported on Route 209, from Port Jervis to Kingston.

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UPDATE (9:32 a.m.): The Greenville Town Hall is closed Thursday.

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UPDATE (9:32 a.m.): An accident is reported at mile 86.1 on the northbound Thruway, which is a few miles before exit 19 in Kingston.

UPDATE (9:13 a.m.): MTA has scaled back service today to about 75 percent operable, and riders on Metro-North trains should expect delays of 10-15 minutes. Signal problems are currently being reported on the Hudson Line southbound into Grand Central Terminal.

Jeremiah Horrigan is reporting three inches of snow in New Paltz. Heather Yakin in Monroe is reporting two-and-a-half inches. Nathan Brown in Middletown measured about a half-hour ago and recorded a little more than an inch, but the snow is falling fast now, so we could be looking at two in the city.

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UPDATE (8:44 a.m.): A number of problems are mounting on the New York Thruway.

- A disabled tractor-trailer is reported on the northbound Thruway at mile 41.7, a few miles south of the Harriman toll. The right lane is blocked here.

- A second accident is reported, also, northbound a miles north of the Harriman toll. This is at mile marker 49.5.

- A third accident, involving a tractor-trailer, is at mile 89.9 on the southbound Thruway, just south of the Kingston exit. The right lane is blocked. No word on if it's the same accident as previously reported near this area.

UPDATE (8:27 a.m.): A snow emergency went into effect in the City of Kingston at 7 a.m. Thursday. Parking is prohibited on city streets during a snow emergency. Enforcement will begin in residential areas after 9 a.m., and in business districts after 5 p.m.

Also, garbage pickup in Kingston for Thursday will be postponed until Friday, but recycling will be picked up on Thursday.

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UPDATE (8:21 a.m.): Blooming Grove Town Hall will delay opening until 10 a.m. due to the storm. Town Hall might close altogether depending on the severity of the storm.

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UPDATE (8:16 a.m.): The Village of Maybrook Government Center will open at 11 a.m. Thursday due to the storm. The village library will be closed.

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UPDATE (8:10 a.m.): Walden village offices are closed Thursday due to the storm.

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UPDATE (8:05 a.m.): Last half hour snow picking up in Neversink area in Sullivan County

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UPDATE (8:02 a.m.): Cornwall Town Hall is closed Thursday due to the storm. Thursday evening's Town Court session has been cancelled, and all cases have been rescheduled for 5 p.m. March 13.

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UPDATE (7:59 a.m.): New Windsor's Town Hall and recreation offices will be closed Thursday due to the storm, and all recreation programs have been cancelled. Also, Thursday's Town Court session with Justice Noreen Calderin has been cancelled. The court will send those scheduled to appear Thursday a new appearance date. Call 845-563-4682 with any questions.

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UPDATE (7:56 a.m.): Amtrak is canceling some of its trains and modifying the schedules for others because of the winter storm that's battering the Northeast and the South.

Acela Express trains between Washington and Boston, Northeast Regional trains between Boston and Norfolk, Va., Keystone Service between New York and Harrisburg, Pa., and Empire Service between New York and Albany, N.Y., are operating at reduced frequency or modified schedules Thursday.

Amtrak has canceled Auto Train, Crescent, Carolinian, Palmetto and Piedmont trains. The Silver Meteor is canceled from New York to Miami and the Silver Star will operate south from Jacksonville, Fla.

- Associated Press

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UPDATE (7:38 a.m.): So far the Village of Monticello is not well plowed, and Route 17 eastbound from mid-Sullivan County is slippery but passable. One car was seen off the road, in the westbound lanes of Route 17 in Rock Hill.

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UPDATE (7:34 a.m.): An accident has been reported on the southbound side of the New York Thruway, about 2-3 miles south of exit 19 (Kingston). The accident involves a tractor-trailer, and the right lane is blocked.

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UPDATE (7:31 a.m.): From reporter Mike Randall: A snow emergency is in effect in the City of Newburgh until further notice. The emergency requires drivers to observe alternate side of the street parking rules. Parking is prohibited on all streets marked as snow emergency routes.

UPDATE (7:21 a.m.): Steve Israel in Bethel reports light snow and an accumulation of about an inch.

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UPDATE (7:12 a.m.): JetBlue 7 a.m. flight to Orlando left Stewart Airport, but later US Airways flight 4395 to Philadelphia is cancelled. Hundreds of flights out of NYC airports cancelled. Check with your carrier.

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UPDATE (7:00 a.m.): PennDOT is temporarily reducing the speed limit on several roadways in the region. PennDOT is urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel but those who must head out will see speeds reduced to 45 mph on the following highways: Interstate 80, Interstate 81, Interstate 84, Interstate 380

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UPDATE (6:46 a.m.): Town of Hamptonburgh Justice Court (scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.) has been canceled, and all scheduled appearances will be rescheduled, according to Town Justice Richard B. Golden.

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UPDATE (6:29 a.m.): New Jersey Transit is alerting passengers to expect 10-15-minute delays on all service this morning because of the snow.

UPDATE (5:39 a.m.): An accident is being reported at mile 16.75 on the New York Thruway southbound. This is in South Nyack, just before the Tappan Zee Bridge approach. Cameras show plows have recently come down the Thruway, but slick conditions are expected.

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UPDATE (5:27 a.m.): Snow and ice conditions are being reported on Route 28 between the New York Thruway and the Delaware County line, past Shandaken.

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UPDATE (5:25 a.m.): Most school districts are closing Thursday. More here.

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UPDATE (4:49 a.m.):The NY DOT reports snow and ice now on both directions of Route 209 from Wurtsboro to Kerhonkson.

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UPDATE (4:32 a.m.): The NY DOT reports snow and ice on both directions of Route 9W between Route 23A and the Ulster County line.

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UPDATE (4:12 a.m.): The speed limit on the Tappan Zee Bridge is 45 mph, in both directions.

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UPDATE (4:03 a.m.): The NYDOT reports snow and ice conditions on Route 44 in both directions throughout the Hudson Valley.

Route 17 west and east are both covered with a layer of snow, as is Interstate 87 approaching the Hudson Valley from the south. Conditions are expected to only worsen today.

At 2:30 a.m., average vehicle speed on Route 17 was approximately 45-50 mph; average vehicle speed on Interstate 87 was approximately 50 mph.

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UPDATE (3:42 a.m.): The Town of Fallsburg has closed all offices Thursday.

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Here's what we're expecting in full:

Orange County - A Winter Storm Warning is in effect, per the National Weather Service, until 6 a.m. Friday. Anywhere from 12-16 inches of snow, and a tenth of an inch of ice, are expected to accumulate before then.

Wind gusts of up to 30 mph could blow through during the storm.

The snow will fall into the afternoon, when sleet and freezing rain may mix. It will change back to snow for the evening. Snow is expected to stop falling after midnight Friday.

The warning in Orange County also applies to Putnam, Rockland and northern Westchester counties.

Sullivan County - A Winter Storm Warning is in effect, per the National Weather Service, until 10 a.m. Friday. Anywhere from 10-14 inches of snow are expected to accumulate before then.

Wind gusts of up to 25 mph could blow through during the storm.

Light snow should fall in the early morning, with moderate snow beginning to fall around 6 a.m. The heaviest snow should fall during the afternoon and evening hours. Snow is expected to taper off Friday morning.

The warning in Sullivan County also applies to Delaware County, and Pike and Wayne counties in Pennsylvania.

Ulster County - A Winter Storm Warning is in effect, per the National Weather Service, until 10 a.m. Friday. Anywhere from 10-20 inches of snow are expected to accumulate before then.

Wind gusts of up to 35 mph could blow through during the storm.

Snow will fall throughout the day Thursday, with the heaviest coming in the afternoon. Snow may mix with sleet Thursday evening, and will diminish altogether by Friday morning. The heaviest snow is expected to fall in the eastern part of the Catskills.

The warning in Sullivan County also applies to Dutchess County.

- All Sullivan County buildings other than the 24-hour facilities will be closed Thursday.

- A stress-reduction workshop set for Thursday has been re-scheduled to 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at Pure Symmetry Fitness, 99 Depot St., Pine Bush. For more information, go to puresymmetryfitness.com.

- The Orange County Chamber of Commerce membership breakfast that was scheduled for Thursday at West Hills in Middletown has been cancelled.

- Crystal Run Healthcare's "Getting Tomorrow's Health Care Today" seminar set for Thursday has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. March 12 in the first-floor cafe conference room at 61 Emerald Place, Rock Hill. For more information, call 615-6832 or visit crystalrunhealthcare.com/seminar.

- The state Public Service Commission hearing on the planned Competitive Power Ventures' planned natural-gas power plant in Wawayanda, which had originally been scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at SUNY Orange in Middletown, has been canceled. The PSC says a new date will be set as soon as possible.

- The Town of Wallkill town board meeting scheduled for Thursday evening has been canceled. All topics on the agenda will be taken up at the Feb. 27 meeting.

- Dial-A-Bus service in the Town of Wallkill has been canceled for Thursday and is tentatively delayed Friday morning.

- The Town of Wallkill Seniors meeting at the Community Center scheduled for Thursday has been canceled.

- The lecture "Broken Eggs Cannot Be Mended: Abraham Lincoln and the Struggle for Freedom" scheduled for Thursday at SUNY Orange has been rescheduled for 7 p.m. March 19.

Beyond Thursday

- The 2014 Price Chopper BHM Step Show scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday at the Bardavon (35 Market St., Poughkeepsie) has been postponed until 7 p.m. March 28. Tickets will be honored. Call 473-2072.

- The One-Billion-Rising flash mob dance set for Friday at the Galleria at Crystal Run has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 19.

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If your business or organization wants to make a cancellation or postponement announcement, email Timothy Malcolm at tmalcolm@th-record.com, or Barry Lewis at blewis@th-record.com.